Foundation Announces Hall Of Fame Inductees

The official registered charity of Newcastle United has announced the first inductees to its Hall of Fame at a star-studded event at St. James' Park.

The Newcastle United Foundation confirmed the first entrants, made up of five renowned players, two historic teams, a revered former manager and two community champions, at its inaugural celebration dinner in association with Malhotra Group.

Guests from across the Club's long and illustrious history, including several members of the current first team squad, converged on the Magpies' famous home as those who had topped supporters' voting on the club's official website, nufc.co.uk, were announced by host and Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling.

The first players to be inducted include three of the Club's four highest-ever goal scorers - all former wearers of its iconic number nine shirt - with a place for record scorer Alan Shearer and posthumous honours for Jackie Milburn and Hughie Gallacher.

They are joined by the Magpies' current Football Development Manager Peter Beardsley, who had two spells on Tyneside as a player, and Fairs Cup-winning captain Bob Moncur - the first defender to enter the Hall of Fame.

One of the North East's greatest ever sporting figures, Sir Bobby Robson, was inducted as the Hall of Fame's first manager after dominating online voting. His widow, Lady Elsie Robson, was in attendance to collect the award.

Lady Elsie said: "I'm extremely proud that Bob has been inducted into Newcastle United Foundation's Hall of Fame.

"His career took him all over the world, and he was lucky to work at some wonderful football clubs, but Newcastle was always his team. It was his father's team too and he was thrilled to become its manager.

"My thanks go to everyone who voted for him. It means a great deal that my husband is still so fondly remembered by Newcastle United fans."

The first inducted teams were confirmed as the 1950-55 side which won the FA Cup in 1951, 1952 and 1954 and the famed 'Entertainers' team from 1992 to 1997, represented on Wednesday evening by individual inductees Shearer and Beardsley and teammates including Faustino Asprilla, Rob Lee, Pavel Srníček, Darren Peacock and John Beresford.

The Foundation Champion Award went to ten year-old Newcastle fan Mikey Buchan, who suffers from severely impaired vision. Despite being diagnosed with with Leber's Congenital Amaurosis (L.C.A) at just a few months old, Mikey has continued to overcome everyday challenges and attends the Foundation's Visually Impaired weekly football session. A promising talent, Mikey is now working towards the 2020 Paralympics.

The Foundation Community Award was picked up by the lead coaching tutor at Northumberland FA, Barney Jones, recognising his immense contribution to grassroots football in the North East.

A former non-league player and manager of teams including Eastbourne United and Lewes FC, Barney swapped his head of physical education role at a school in Sussex for the position of football development officer at Newcastle City Council in 1987 and has continued to drive participation and the development of the game across the region ever since.

His award-winning football scheme has received national recognition and now forms a major part of the work of the Newcastle United Foundation.

The Foundation will continue to add the club's greatest names to the Hall of Fame as part of its Toon Times educational programme, which will culminate in a specially-commissioned exhibition at Newcastle's Discovery Museum in 2014.

All fund raised from Wednesday night's event will go to the Newcastle United Foundation, which supports over 38,000 disadvantaged children, young people and families throughout the region every year.